Structural arrangement in a seal for beverage containers

ABSTRACT

A structural arrangement in a seal for beverage containers, forming a seal and a beverage container combination, enabling for the beverage containers to be opened by removing the seal, thus preventing the seal from contacting the liquid, preventing contamination of the liquid while providing a fast and practical removal of the seal.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

The present Utility Model Patent is directed to a structural arrangement in a seal for beverage containers, pertaining to the technical field of packaging accessories in general but relating more particularly to a new seal for cans for beverages, such as beer, juices and soft drinks, or any other beverage or product that uses the packaging container in question, which yields practical, secure and functional results that are very advantageous.

STATE OF THE ART

Beverage cans are widely known, but only a few people is aware of http://aleriln1.alerj.rj.gov.br, related to the amendment to Bill 2833/2002 that regulates the requirement to print information on beverage cans for alerting consumers of the need to wash the can before drinking the liquid, whose justification is as follows:

“Recent research carried out by specific laboratories have disclosed serious contamination in beverage cans. It was found that on the average large amounts of Bacteria Colony Forming Units per square centimeter (UFC/cm) of fecal coliforms get in touch with the mouth of the consumer, among a number of other microorganisms. The total coliforms indicate precarious hygiene, since the ingestion of a beverage in a can carrying fecal coliforms is the same as putting the mouth in a thoroughly contaminated material, bringing about diarrhea and vomit. Infectologists alert that the current model of the cans is quite deficient, since the dirty seal of the can may contact the liquid and stimulate the proliferation of bacteria as soon as it is opened.

In our State a lot of consumers have acquired several types of illness caused by contaminated beverage cans, and even a few cases of death have been reported.

Therefore, it is of the utmost importance to alert consumers on beverage in a proper way in a clear and objective language for clarifying the consumer. It cannot be admitted that the lack of information is the main cause of illnesses any longer.”

Thus, the purpose of this patent is to provide a more hygienic use of can containers, in order to prevent/avoid the liquid from being contaminated. Practically no one has noticed so far that the lid is inserted into the can when the seal is broken, thus establishing a direct contact with the drink, so, in view of this fact the present invention was developed wherein, by using the structural arrangement in a seal for beverage containers and constructive variants thereof, the beverage cans can be opened by removing the seal, thus preventing the same from contacting the liquid, while providing a fast practical removal of the seal.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present utility model patent will be better understood after reading the description of the figures that represent schematically:

FIG. 1.1: a perspective view of the new structural arrangement in a seal for beverage containers;

FIG. 1.2: a partially exploded perspective view of the seal for beverage containers;

FIG. 1.3: an upper view of the seal for beverage containers;

FIG. 1.4: a partial perspective view showing the seal for beverage containers opened;

FIG. 1.5: a partial perspective view showing the seal for beverage containers partially opened;

FIG. 1.6: a partial perspective view showing the seal for beverage containers opened;

FIG. 1.7: a partial perspective view showing the seal for beverage containers fully removed;

FIG. 1.8: a partial cut side view of the seal for beverage containers;

FIG. 1.9: a partial cut side view showing the seal for beverage containers opened;

FIG. 1.10: a partial cut side view showing the seal for beverage containers partially opened;

FIG. 1.11: a partial cut side view showing the seal for beverage containers opened;

FIG. 1.12: a partial cut side view showing the seal for beverage containers fully removed;

FIG. 2.1: a perspective view of a first constructive variant of the seal for beverage containers;

FIG. 2.2: an exploded perspective view of a first constructive variant of the seal for beverage containers;

FIG. 3.1: a perspective view of a second constructive variant of the seal for beverage containers;

FIG. 3.2: an exploded perspective view of a second constructive variant of the seal for beverage containers;

FIG. 4.1: a perspective view of a third constructive variant of the seal for beverage containers;

FIG. 4.2: an exploded perspective view of a third constructive variant of the seal for beverage containers;

FIG. 5.1: a perspective view of a fourth constructive variant of the seal for beverage containers;

FIG. 5.2: an exploded perspective view of a fourth constructive variant of the seal for beverage containers;

FIG. 6.1: a perspective view of a fifth constructive variant of the seal for beverage containers;

FIG. 6.2: an exploded perspective view of a fifth constructive variant of the seal for beverage containers;

FIG. 7.1: a perspective view of a sixth constructive variant of the seal for beverage containers;

FIG. 7.2: an exploded perspective view of a sixth constructive variant of the seal for beverage containers;

FIG. 8.1: a perspective view of a seventh constructive variant of the seal for beverage containers;

FIG. 8.2: an exploded perspective view of a seventh constructive variant of the seal for beverage containers;

FIG. 8.3: an upper view of a seventh constructive variant of the seal for beverage containers;

FIG. 8.4: an exploded upper view of a seventh constructive variant of the seal for beverage containers;

FIG. 8.5: a detailed cut perspective of a seventh constructive variant of the seal for beverage containers;

FIG. 8.6: a detailed cut side view of a seventh constructive variant of the seal for beverage containers, in the closed position;

FIG. 8.7: a detailed cut side view of a seventh constructive variant of the seal for beverage containers, showing the seal being removed;

FIG. 8.8: a detailed cut side view of a seventh constructive variant of the seal for beverage containers, with the lever pushed down and the seal being removed;

FIG. 9.1: a perspective view of an eighth constructive variant of the seal for beverage containers;

FIG. 9.2: an exploded perspective view of an eighth constructive variant of the seal for beverage containers;

FIG. 10.1: a perspective view of a ninth constructive variant of the seal for beverage containers;

FIG. 10.2: an exploded perspective view of a ninth constructive variant of the seal for beverage containers;

FIG. 11.1: a perspective view of a tenth constructive variant of the seal for beverage containers;

FIG. 11.2: an exploded perspective view of a tenth constructive variant of the seal for beverage containers;

FIG. 12.1: a perspective view of an eleventh constructive variant of the seal for beverage containers;

FIG. 12.2: an exploded perspective view of an eleventh constructive variant of the seal for beverage containers;

FIG. 13.1: a perspective view of a twelfth constructive variant of the seal for beverage containers; and

FIG. 13.2: an exploded perspective view of a twelfth constructive variant of the seal for beverage containers.

In accordance with FIGS. 1.1 and 1.12, the present utility model patent comprises a seal (1), for beverage cans (2), said seal (1) being provided with a curvilinear lever (3), on top of which an elliptical body (4) or in the shape of the opening of the container, provided with an attachment system (5), welded, glued or pressed, and may optionally be made as a single body, said lever (3) being disposed in order to form a lever tip (30), that widens and extends as far as the fold (31), in the edge that, in turn, forms the tooth (31′) that perforates the peripheral region of the elliptical body (4), thus facilitating the opening and extended according to the inclination of the can, thus forming the portion (32) and ending in a semicircular ring (33) that is accommodated on the recess (6) made in the can (2) so that the user may grasp same easily

In accordance with FIGS. 2.1 and 2.2, in a first constructive variant, the lever (3) is arranged in order not to have the tip (30).

In accordance with FIGS. 3.1 and 3.2, in a second constructive variant, the lever (3) is arranged in order to form a ring (331) at the free vertical end.

In accordance with FIGS. 4.1 and 4.2, in a third constructive variant, the lever (3) is arranged in order to form a hollow vertical extension (332) at the free end.

In accordance with FIGS. 5.1 and 5.2, in a fourth constructive variant, the lever (3) is arranged in order to form a circular ring (333) at the free vertical and the can (2) is provided with two ring-shaped recesses (61 and 61′), one deeper than the other, respectively, so that the user may grasp same easily.

In accordance with FIGS. 6.1 and 6.2, in a fifth constructive variant, the seal (1) is provided with a rectilinear lever (30) that is disposed horizontally and connected to the fixed end, an elliptical region (4) or in the shape of the opening of the container, provided with an attachment system (5), welded, glued or pressed, and may optionally be made as a single body, said lever (3) being disposed in order to form a slight fold (301) in the edge that, in turn, forms the tooth (301′) that perforates the peripheral region of the elliptical body (4), followed by an extension (302) and ending in a semicircular ring (303) that is accommodated on the circular recess(60) made in the upper portion of the can (2), so that the user may grasp same easily.

In accordance with FIGS. 7.1 and 7.2, in a sixth constructive variant, the lever (30) is provided with two curved rods (304) at the fixed end thereof that form an ancillary lever for removing the elliptical body (4), thus preventing same from contacting the liquid.

In accordance with FIGS. 8.1 to 8.8, in a seventh constructive variant, the lever (30), is provided at the fixed end thereof of an inverted U-shaped extension (305) provided in the end thereof with a blade/guillotine type tooth (305′), forming a tip and an ancillary lever for removing the elliptical body (4), thus preventing same from contacting the liquid.

In accordance with FIGS. 9.1 and 9.2, in an eighth constructive variant, the lever (30), is arranged in order to form a circular ring (306) at the free end of the extension (302).

In accordance with FIGS. 10.1 and 10.2, in a ninth constructive variant, the lever (30), is arranged in order to form a rectilinear extension (307) at the fixed end thereof of the extension (302), that forms an ancillary lever for removing the elliptical body (4), thus preventing same from contacting the liquid.

In accordance with FIGS. 11.1 and 11.4, in a tenth constructive variant, the lever (30), is provided with an inverted U-shaped extension (305) at the fixed end thereof that forms an ancillary lever for removing the elliptical body (4), thus preventing same from contacting the liquid and is arranged in order to form an extension (308) provided with an opening (308′) in the free end thereof.

In accordance with FIGS. 12.1 and 12.2, in an eleventh constructive variant, the lever (30), is provided with a rectilinear extension (309) at the fixed end thereof that forms an ancillary lever for removing the elliptical body (4), thus preventing same from contacting the liquid and is arranged in order to form an extension (308) provided with an opening (308′) in the free end thereof.

In accordance with FIGS. 13.1 and 13.2, in a twelfth constructive variant, the lever (30), is provided with an inverted U-shaped extension (305) at the fixed end thereof that forms an ancillary lever for removing the elliptical body (4), thus preventing same from contacting the liquid and is arranged in order to form a curved extension (310) provided with an opening (310′) in the free end thereof and the upper portion of the can (2) is provided with a larger and deeper elliptical body (62) so that the user may grasp same easily.

With the structural arrangement in a seal for beverage containers thus attained, it provides the following advantages in relation to its equivalents known so far:

-   -   an easy and practical opening of the seal;     -   a more hygienic arrangement, since the seal/lid does not contact         the liquid;     -   a better levering effect that facilitates the opening of the         seal; and     -   the possibility of using recyclable materials in the lid.

The scope of the present utility model patent demonstrates its innovation both in the national and international, and therefore it should not be limited to the use of the containers, but to the terms defined in the claims and its several equivalents. 

1-13. (canceled)
 14. A seal and a beverage container combination; the beverage container comprising: (a) an opening at a top section, and (b) a first recess at a top section or an adjacent side section; and the seal comprising: (c) a body sized to the opening and covering the opening, and (d) a lever; having a first end connected to the body and a second end, having an opening; extending away from the body; and disposed adjacent to the first recess; wherein the lever is constructed and arranged to remove the body from the container, when the lever is pulled away from the beverage container.
 15. The combination of claim 14, wherein the first end of the lever further comprising a tip with toothed section; constructed and arranged to perforate a peripheral region of the body.
 16. The combination of claim 14, wherein the lever is constructed and arranged at angles.
 17. The combination of claim 14, wherein the lever is constructed and arranged straight.
 18. The combination of claim 14, wherein the beverage container further comprises a second recess which is disposed adjacent to the first recess and is deeper than the first recess.
 19. The combination of claim 14, wherein the opening at the second end of the lever defines a semi-circular ring.
 20. The combination of claim 14, wherein the opening at the second end of the lever defines a circular ring.
 21. The combination of claim 14, wherein the opening at the second end of the lever defines a hollow section.
 22. The combination of claim 14, wherein the first end of the lever forms a lever tip which extends past the body in a direction opposite the second end of the lever, constructed and arranged to form an ancillary lever.
 23. The combination of claim 22, wherein an ancillary lever are two curved rods extending past the body in a direction opposite the second end of the lever.
 24. The combination of claim 22, wherein an ancillary lever is a rectilinear extension.
 25. The combination of claim 14, wherein the first end connected to the body and the second end of the lever are unlevelled by a fold, the first end forming a tip with toothed section constructed and arranged to perforate a peripheral region of the body.
 26. The combination of claim 14, wherein the lever tip forms an inverted U-shape with respect to the top side of the beverage container; and wherein the toothed section is a blade or guillotine tooth section.
 27. The combination of claim 14, wherein the lever and the body are formed as one piece.
 28. The combination of claim 14, wherein the lever and the body are formed as two pieces which are connected by welding, gluing, or an attachment piece which extends through the lever and the body.
 29. The combination of claim 14, wherein the second end of the lever extends past the top section of the beverage container and is bent to contour the adjacent side section of the beverage container.
 30. The combination of claim 14, wherein the second end of the lever is oriented substantially parallel to the top section of the beverage container. 